Lupus is a disease that many people are familiar with. Many people hear about it, but few really understand it. What exactly the disease is?
Lupus is a disease related to the human body’s immune system. It is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in different parts of the body, such as the skin, joints, kidneys and brain.
In a healthy human body, autoimmunity protects the body from infection and injury. However, in people with the disease, the immune system attacks healthy cells, tissues and organs. Lupus is divided into several types, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus and neonatal lupus.
How is the symptoms?
The symptoms of lupus are different for everyone. Symptoms and signs can appear suddenly or develop slowly. Some symptoms may be mild or severe, and may be temporary or permanent. Most people with mild experience episodes called flares. These episodes refer to symptoms and signs that get worse for some time, then improve or even disappear for a while.
As cited by Mayo Clinic, the signs and symptoms is vary depending on which body system is affected. However, some common signs and symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Butterfly-shaped rash on the face. It covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose or it may be rashes elsewhere on the body
- Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure
- Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dry eyes
- Headaches, confusion and memory loss
What cause the disease?
The cause of lupus is not known. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue. Therefore, a combination of genetic and environmental factors are often linked to the appearance of lupus. It means that people with an inherited predisposition can develop the disease if they come into contact with something in the environment that can trigger it. There are some potential triggers, such as:
- Sunlight
When people with lupus is triggered with the exposure of sunlight may bring a skin lesions or trigger an internal response in susceptible people
- Infections
An infection may initiate a lupus or cause a relapse for some people
- Medications
A certain types of drug such as a types of blood pressure medications, anti-seizure medications, and antibiotics.
How is the treatment?
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are some types of medicines that commonly used to treat the disease, include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSADIDs)
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen help reduce mild pain and swelling in joints and muscles
- Corticosteroids
It may reduce swelling, tenderness, and pain even in the high doses, it can calm the immune system
- Antimalarial drugs
The medicine of malaria can also treat joint pain, skin rashes, fatigue, and lung inflammation.
- BLyS-specific inhibitors
It can limit the amount of abnormal B cells (cells that create antibodies) found in people with lupus
- Immunosuppressive agents/chemotherapy
This medicine may be used for people with severe cases of lupus or when lupus affects the major organ and other treatments do not work
- Other medicines
Other medicines may be needed to treat illnesses linked to the disease.
However, medication can only reduce the symptoms – it cannot cure the disease. It is also not preventable, but you can reduce the risks or prevent the symptoms from occurring. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce the risk of lupus. PRS
